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firebull · Sep 2, 2008, 05:01 PM

I trying to install a ceiling fan with light combo. The house is "prewired" (5 yrs old).
Under the cover/cap ceiling, there are 1 black, 1 white, 1 green, 1 pink. Followed instruction booklet I connect as follow:
Fan black and blue to ceiling black
Fan white to ceiling white
Fan green to ceiling green.
But it doesn't work.
1 What's the pink wire for?
2 Can the ceiling electrical box handle the fan's 35lbs weight? If it can or cannot how do I check?
3. There is a dimmer control on the wall (not sure for this outlet or not) could it be the cause? I don't intend to use the pulling chain do I need to replace with fan/light control switch or I can use this existing dimmer control?
Thanks for helping

hkstroud · Sep 2, 2008, 05:17 PM

Do you have switches on the wall and if so how many. You need to verify that switches control ceiling fixture.

ballengerb1 · Sep 2, 2008, 06:36 PM

Firebull, your connection should work but you must do some controlling with the pull chains. Blue and black to ceiling black means lights and fan both get power at the same time. Put your yester on pink and green in the ceiling, do you read power, try all switches to see if you can ever get power. We need to find if the pink can be made hot while the ceiling back is not. This could be the way the original electrican intended to control the fan and light. The weight question, a 5 year old home installation like ythis should carry the wieght of the fan. Check in your attic to see if the box is connected directly to a joist. If you were adding a fan to a blank ceiling you can buy a box with an adjustible spanner to fit between joists.

ceilingfanrepair · Sep 2, 2008, 10:07 PM

1. Remove the dimmer switch, replace it with an on off wall switch, just for troubleshooting.

2. What was installed there before the fan, how was it wired, and did the dimmer control it?

3. The pink wire is actually red and is probably connected to the switch.

firebull · Sep 3, 2008, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by hkstroud

Do you have switches on the wall and if so how many. You need to verify that switches control ceiling fixture.

There are 2 switches and one dimmer.

firebull · Sep 3, 2008, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

The weight question, a 5 year old home installation like ythis should carry the wieght of the fan. Check in your attic to see if the box is connected directly to a joist. If you were adding a fan to a blank ceiling you can buy a box with an adjustible spanner to fit between joists.

The box is on the ceiling between the first and second floor. Very shallow box, it was spray painted several thick layers (when they paint the ceiling I guess) so cannot tell from plastic or metal. There are only 2 hex screws hold the box to the joist. This box can hold the 30-40 lbs fan right?

firebull · Sep 3, 2008, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by ceilingfanrepair

1. Remove the dimmer switch, replace it with an on off wall switch, just for troubleshooting.

2. What was installed there before the fan, how was it wired, and did the dimmer control it?

3. The pink wire is actually red and is probably connected to the switch.

There was just a plastic cover cap over the box. There was nothing installed yet.
Good idea. I will remove and check the dimmer connection as you suggest

firebull · Sep 3, 2008, 01:59 PM

You guys are great! I will check again and see if it work or not. Thanks

hkstroud · Sep 3, 2008, 03:30 PM

The two hex screws sounds like a ceiling fan/light box. The black and red wires should come from the switches. Use you tester to determine which wire is connected to to which switch. One of the switches may control a switched outlet in the room. Turn all switches off. Check for voltage between white and black and between white and red. Should have no voltage. Turn one switch on and check voltage again. Should have voltage on one unless that switch is connected to outlet. Check each switch this way. If dimmer switch is connected to one wire (and it probably is) connect fan light to that wire. Connect fan motor wire to other. Do not connect fan motor wire to dimmer switch. Running fan motor through dimmer switch will ruin fan motor. If you don't have a test light pull switch cover and look at switches. You should see which switch the red is connected to. If I had to guess right now, I would guess that the black is connected to the dimmer switch.